Posts Tagged ‘dropped charges’

After weeks of deliberation, a grand jury has not indicted a Stonehill College student accused of raping an 8-year-old girl he tutored in Brockton, and he will not be prosecuted, authorities said yesterday.

As a result, Kevin Treseler, 21, of Millis will be welcomed back to Stonehill, from which he was suspended last month following the allegations.

Treseler is not sure he will return to the Easton school, his lawyer said.

“Kevin Treseler’s name has been cleared,” said his attorney, Michael P. Doolin of Dorchester. “I hope that he’s able to go back to the life that he had, and his family is very relieved and gratified for the findings of the grand jury.”

Matthew H. Malone, superintendent of Brockton’s public schools, said officials believe a crime was committed and the school district will continue to work with law enforcement to identify a perpetrator. He did not indicate whether another participant in the tutoring program would be targeted.

“First and foremost, our priority has always been and will continue to be the 8-year-old girl in the center of this case, who has clearly been victimized in some way,” he said. “We’re continuing to support the student as we support many students who are victims of trauma.”

Bridget Norton Middleton, spokeswoman for the Plymouth district attorney, concurred. “Our concern now is the victim and that she has all the services she needs,” Middleton said.

Brockton police arrested Treseler March 21 on two counts of rape of a child with force and two counts of indecent assault and battery of a child younger than 14.

Treseler was a math tutor at Angelo Elementary School, where the assaults allegedly took place from January through March. At his arrest, his initial lawyer, Kari D. Cincotta, said the circumstances did “not bear out to support [the alleged victim’s] allegations.”

Treseler worked at the school as part of a federal work-study program, America Counts. The tutoring sessions were held in a regular classroom, under the supervision of a teacher.

Yesterday’s announcement came as a relief to Treseler’s family. “His parents are very happy and relieved,” Doolin said. “It’s been very difficult.”

A Stonehill spokesman, Martin McGovern, said in a statement yesterday that Treseler is welcome back to school.

“We look forward to helping Kevin reintegrate into college life and to supporting him as he makes that transition, if that is his wish,” he said.